OTA Updates Are Here!
Last week we released d3kOS version 0.9.9.5, and this week we're already rolling out another release packed with fixes, improvements, and some pretty exciting new capabilities.
What makes this update especially important is how it was delivered.
For the first time, d3kOS is now performing automatic incremental Over-The-Air (OTA) updates. Instead of creating and transferring massive image files, only the changes that matter are delivered directly from the server to your system.
That means:
No more copying and uploading 128 GB images.
Faster deployment of fixes and improvements.
Updates measured in hours and days instead of weeks and months.
Every registered d3kOS installation automatically receives approved updates.
Honestly, this has been one of the biggest time savers in the project so far.
Even better, the quality assurance process behind these updates has been working extremely well. Fixes are developed, tested, validated, and deployed quickly across our test fleet. Watching every test system update itself and continue running smoothly after installation is incredibly satisfying.
It feels like d3kOS is starting to act like the big boys now.
What's New in This Release?
Better Raspberry Pi Health Monitoring
The old Pi status indicator has been completely replaced with a new health status pill visible across the dashboard.
You'll now see:
🟢 Pi: OK
🟡 Pi: WARN
🔴 Pi: CRITICAL
Clicking the status indicator opens detailed information showing the health and status of all major d3kOS services.
Automatic CAN Adapter Detection
d3kOS can now automatically recognize supported NMEA 2000 CAN adapters.
Simply plug in the hardware and d3kOS configures itself automatically. No manual setup, no guesswork, and no hunting through configuration screens.
For cloned or newly deployed systems, this dramatically simplifies installation.
Helm Voice Assistant Improvements
Several important fixes have been made to Helm:
Restored reliable voice responses.
Faster answers to common questions such as asking for the time.
Eliminated unwanted restarts while Helm is speaking.
Improved handling of interruptions and alerts.
Prevented Helm from accidentally responding to its own voice announcements.
The end result is a much more natural and dependable onboard voice assistant experience.
Improved Audio Alert System
SafeHelm and other onboard notifications now speak using the same natural voice used by Helm.
The audio system has also been redesigned to ensure important alerts always get priority and are never silently lost because another service is already using the speaker.
When safety alerts occur, they'll be heard.
Smarter OTA Updates
The update system has become even safer:
Prevents accidental downgrade installations.
Allows safe re-application of the same update if required.
Delivers fixes without requiring full image replacements.
Dashboard Improvements
We cleaned up several dashboard issues including:
Restored SafeHelm widgets.
Fixed layout inconsistencies.
Removed obsolete 3D dashboard controls.
Added the new health monitoring indicators.
New RSS Alerting System
One of the most exciting additions is the new RSS-based alert system.
d3kOS now publishes system health events and alerts through its built-in RSS feed.
Examples include:
Anchor Watch alerts
SafeHelm warnings
System health notifications
Agent failures
Critical system conditions
When everything is working properly, d3kOS publishes a friendly:
"All Systems OK"
message so connected displays always have useful status information available.
Introducing d3kTV
I suppose it's time to officially talk about d3kTV.
d3kTV started as a Raspberry Pi 3B running OSMC and the latest version of Kodi, destined for the saloon aboard my boat.
I've already integrated Pluto TV, giving access to internet-based television while onboard. But the real customization came from connecting Kodi directly to d3kOS.
Using Kodi's RSS ticker feature, d3kTV can display scrolling notifications along the bottom of the television screen. With this release, d3kOS now feeds system alerts directly into that ticker.
That means if Anchor Watch triggers, SafeHelm raises a warning, or another important event occurs, you'll see it immediately on the television in the salon.
It's a simple idea, but a very effective way to keep everyone informed without requiring them to constantly monitor a navigation display.
I originally experimented with streaming live d3kOS dashboards directly into Kodi as TV channels, but the processing requirements consumed too many resources on the d3kOS Raspberry Pi. I'm continuing to investigate more efficient approaches.
For now, d3kTV provides:
Pluto TV streaming
Kodi media center capabilities
Live d3kOS RSS alerts
Automatic configuration for registered d3kOS systems (Tier 1 and above)
In short, d3kTV is becoming the onboard media and information hub for d3kOS-powered vessels.
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